Okay, we heard it from the pros many times. Players like "bigplayer", "Ryemo", "Wisereyes" have recommended don't risk your good name by playing rated. I have no dispute with anything they say. I do believe their arguments are valid, but do remember they are also playing for high stakes.
Now my focus will be on the recreational red chip player or light green player. Should they play rated? I say it depends. But first let me say at most casinos that I intend to return to I have played rated my entire life. At my local casinos, I'm so well known that it wouldn't make any difference if I'm rated or not. After a backoff, I could never return. There is no waiting period long enough for them to forget me. I'm known by name from the Chairman of the tribe down to the janitor and most folks in between. So in this situation why not play rated.
I do believe age should be an important factor in deciding if to play rated. If you are 25 years old and have maybe 50 years of playing ahead of you, it is much different than someone who is 65 and only has a few years of playing left. At 25 someday you maybe in a situation where you might want to play at higher stakes at the pro or semi-pro level. At 65 your intentions should already be well known.
Now I believe 21forme said at the red chip level your comps are so small they are practically worthless. To this I say bullshit. At the red chip level without comps it is almost impossible to play a winning game after expenses. Your expenses will eat any profit you can possibly make. On a recent blackjack trip I received about $250 in comps consisting of hotel, meals, and free play. Even with all these comps I had about another $70 in uncomped expenses.
My trips to Laughlin and Wendover would not be profitable without getting free flights and hotel. And yes, you can qualify for this at the red chip level or light green level with maybe some video poker thrown in the mix.
Of course, there are risks involved with playing rated. Probably getting your name put in OSN is a pretty bad risk, but it is not the end of the world if this does happen. Thanks to a member on this forum who has access to such information, I have been told I'm not in OSN.
I just don't like the idea that playing rated is a no, no, and should never be considered. I don't like to see all the ridicule that Zee gets when he suggests this. A case can be made for playing rated especially at low stakes.
Okay, let the ploppy name calling begin.
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